14 December 2025– III Sunday of Advent (A)- Gaudete Sunday
Mass Readings:
Is 35:1-6.8.10 Ps 146 Jas 5:7-10
Mt 11:2-11
Key Verse to Meditate:
Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John
the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Mt 11:11).
My dear Brothers
and Sisters in the Lord,
The
third Sunday of Advent is also known as the Gaudete Sunday as the readings deal
with the theme of rejoicing in the Lord. Gaudete Sunday is (like that of Laetare
Sunday - a suspension of penitential activities), a break during the season of
Lent, which marks the crossing of the midway to the celebration of Christmas.
It simply signifies the nearness of the Lord's coming, and invites us to
contemplate on the joy and gladness that is assured in the promised Redemption.
The day takes its common name from the Latin word Gaudete
("Rejoice"), the first word in the collect of today’s liturgy.
The First Reading
The
first reading is taken from the opening section of the Book of Isaiah, commonly
known as First Isaiah (chapters 1–39) or Proto-Isaiah. Prophet Isaiah is often called
the “Prince of the Prophets” and “the Poet of the Bible.” His book is also the
most frequently cited in the New Testament, earning him the nickname “the Fifth Gospel.” Chapters 34–35 of
Proto-Isaiah are sometimes referred to as Isaiah’s “Little Apocalypse” because
of their close thematic links with Deutero-Isaiah (chapters 40–55).
The theme of rejoicing shines prominently in today’s first reading,
setting the perfect tone for Gaudete Sunday. The passage opens with expressions
of joy and gladness: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the
desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing” (Is 35:1–2).
In the first three verses, we hear of the desert (midbar),
the parched land (siyyā), and the wilderness
(‘aravah) bursting into joyful
celebration. These images usher us into the spirit of joyful expectation as we
await the coming of the Lord.
This same theme of joy is echoed in the
closing verse of today’s reading: “The ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they
shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Is
35:10).
Amidst the oracles of judgment pronounced
against Judah and Jerusalem (chapters 28–35), this passage stands out as a
message of consolation to a people living in the pre-exilic period. Isaiah
assures them of the coming Saviour, whose arrival will be marked by miraculous
signs:
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and
the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy” (Is 35:5–6).
Although the motif of healing blindness and
deafness is more fully developed in Deutero-Isaiah, here it anticipates the
coming kingdom (cf. Is 29:18; 30:21; 32:3–4; 33:23) and points clearly to the
presence of the Messiah (cf. Is 42:7, 18–20; 43:8). This prophetic vision finds
its fulfilment in the New Testament, where Jesus tells the disciples of John
the Baptist: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive
their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, and the poor have good news brought to them” (Mt 11:4–5).
This passage, which proclaims the final
restoration of Judah, also speaks of a holy
highway (Is 35:8), the coming of divine salvation
and recompense (Is 35:4), and the joyful return of the redeemed (Is 35:9). It is a profound
assurance that God Himself will come to save His people.
The Second Reading
As we rejoice in our preparation for Christmas,
in harmony with the theme of Gaudete Sunday, St. James, in the final chapter of
his letter, invites every Christian disciple to cultivate patience as we await the coming of the Lord (Jas 5:7). The
word patience may also be understood as waiting, and together they form the expression
patient waiting. This patient waiting
calls us to remain attentive to the Lord’s coming, with prayer on our lips and
joy in our hearts.
To illustrate the
virtue of patience, St. James uses the image of a farmer who waits for the
early and late rains, trusting in God for a fruitful harvest. Like the farmer,
the disciple is called to be patient and hopeful, strengthening the heart (cf.
Lk 9:51; 1 Thess 3:13). The image of the farmer waiting for the harvest—a
familiar Jewish symbol of salvation—reminds us that the Christian must depend
on God to fulfil His purpose in His own time.
Thus, St. James
exhorts: “You too must be patient; strengthen
your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (Jas 5:8). Preparing
for the Lord’s coming entails accepting one another, refraining from complaints
or judgments, and living in charity. He cautions the community, pointing to the
imminence of divine judgment, reminding them that “the Judge is standing at the doors” (Jas 5:9b; cf. Mk
13:29; Acts 5:9; Rev 3:20).
Finally, he directs
them to the prophets who spoke of the sure and certain coming of the Lord (Jas
5:10). Their steadfastness serves as a model for us. Therefore, holy patience
becomes an essential virtue in our spiritual preparation for Christ’s coming.
The Gospel Reading
On
this third Sunday of Advent, called Sunday «Gaudete» «of joy», our attention is
focused on the figure of John the Baptist once again who is now imprisoned by
Herod Antipas, on account of Baptists’ condemnation of his illicit link with Herodias,
his brother's wife (Mt 4:12; 14:3-4). In this hopeless situation of humiliation
and suffering in the prison, he hears about the "speaking of the wonderful
works of the Christ", of the Messiah whom he, inspired by God, had
announced. So, his heart’s desire was to verify whether his work of being a
forerunner to Christ was over or not. John was waiting for a Messiah about whom
he had prophesied with much love and expectation with the features of a severe
judge, who would cut down the trees that do not bear fruit and burnt the straw
with an inextinguishable fire: Even now
the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not
bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. His winnowing fork is in
his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into
the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire"(Mt 3:
10.12).
John Hears about the Ministry of Jesus
John
came to know that Jesus was welcoming the sinners and sitting at table with them,
in announcing God's mercy to them and in feeling compassion for the crowds like
a sheep without a shepherd. So this Messiah was not exactly as John was waiting
for him. Hence, he wanted to verify the truth. Imagine, the internal flight of
St. John. He has committed his life to point out the Saviour to the people and
now he has a doubt. So, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus directly: Are you
the one who has to come or should we wait for another one? (Mt 11:3). But more
than getting offended, Jesus simply admired the person of St. John. He said, "Go
and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor
have good news brought to them. And
blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me" (Mt 11:4-6). This
answer of Jesus indicates the action of the Messiah, the fulfilment of the
Scripture.
John the Baptist-
The Forerunner of the Messiah
To
preach the good news and to invite the people to repentance, with the
accompanying deeds was the top priority of Jesus: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release
to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go
free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." (Lk 4:18-19; Is
61:1). This was a consoling answer to the poor prisoner who was full of love
for Christ and was contented at heart. He bore witness to Christ even in prison in silence. The Baptist was a man
who walked in faith but went towards an unjust death in full obedience, for making
himself the forerunner of the Messiah.
Jesus’ Praise of
John the Baptist
As
the disciples of John take a leave, we see the greatness and the beauty of
Christ, who begins to manifest the identity of the Baptist with great solemnity
to the crowds. He announces that John was not "a windswept reed",
that is, he was not a man who has adapted to a comfortable, servile, softened
life, and also that he was not a powerful man who, wrapped in luxurious
clothes, as those in the palaces of power, but he was a "prophet ...
indeed, more than a prophet. It is he of whom it is written: "Behold,
before you I will send my messenger, before you he will prepare your way?"
Therefore, Jesus told them that, John is the new Elijah (cf Mt 11:14), who has
come but was not recognized (Mt 17:12-13), So Jesus praised him, saying, "among
those born of women no one was born greater than John the Baptist; but the
smallest in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Mt 3:11).
John the Baptist-
More than the prophet
But
who is the smallest? It is Jesus because he is the one who came after the
Baptist yet at the same time, he is the greatest in the kingdom of God - who
came to inaugurate the kingdom of God here on earth. Jesus was the Messiah, but
he had the great humility to appreciate the sacrificing work of John the
Baptist. Jesus could have simply left him, because that he has finished his
work and that he is in prison in a hopeless situation.
We
know that John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Lord, who came to prepare
the way for the revealing of Jesus among the promised people. He is also the
Last prophet and the first apostle who gave his life for his mission. Yes in
today’s gospel Christ affirms that John
was more than a prophet. In the same manner, we could also notice the humility
of John the Baptist who said, I baptize you with water; but one who is more
powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Lk 3:16). He always
considered himself as a lowly man. For he said, He must increase, but I must
decrease" (Jn 3:30).
Points for
Personal Reflection
Can
we also bear witness to Christ in pure love, like that of the Baptist, even if
it could cost us? Does the life and example of the Baptist, inspire me to wait
in patience for the fulfilment of the promises of God for me?
Let
us ask God, so that with the strength of his love, we may sustain the journey
of his people who await with faith for the Christmas of the Lord.
